‘Kanyadaan’ Not Mandatory As Per Hindu Marriage Act: Allahabad High Court

Lucknow: ‘Kanyadaan’ is not mandatory for solemnisation of marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act and only ‘saptapadi’ is an essential ceremony as per the law, stated the Allahabad High Court.

A bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi made this observation while hearing a revision petition filed by one Ashutosh Yadav. In his petition, Yadav stated that his marriage under the Act mandated a ‘kanyadaan’ ceremony, which was not performed in his case.

In its order on March 22, the Allahabad High Court said the Hindu Marriage Act merely provides for ‘saptpadi’ (seven steps or saat pheras) as an essential ceremony of a Hindu marriage.

“Whether the ceremony of kanyadaan was performed or not, would not be essential for the just decision of the case and, therefore, a witness cannot be summoned under Section 311 CrPC for proving this fact,” the court said.